Anni Swan (1875–1958)

Anni Swan was born in Helsinki, Finland. Her father Carl Gustaf Swan was a well-known cultural figure and founder of the first newspaper in Lappeenranta. Her younger sister Nelma Sibelius also became a writer. Anni graduated in 1895 from Helsingin Suomalainen Yhteiskoulu, a prestigious private school in Helsinki, and went on to become an elementary school teacher. In 1907, she married Otto Manninen, a writer, with whom she had three sons. Her first collection of fairy tales, simply called Satuja (Fairy Tales), was published in 1901. Her first book for young adults, Tottisalmen perillinen (The Heir of Tottisalmi) appeared in 1917. Her other well-known books were Iris rukka (Poor Iris), Ollin oppivuodet (Olli's Apprentenceship) and Sara ja Sarri (Sara and Sarri). She is considered the creator of Finnish literature for girls. Anni Swan also worked as a journalist for the children's magazines Pääskynen and Nuorten toveri/Sirkka. In addition, she translated fairy tales by the Brothers Grimm and the tales of Br'er Rabbit and Br'er Fox, and produced the first Finnish translation of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.